Finished modifying the new car, a 2009 Solstice GXP Coupe, one of 1152 coupes they managed to build before Pontiac tanked.

I did a fair bit of suspension prep and some power mods.  Now around 310 BHP and 340 ft-lbs. out of 2 litres.  Makes a great car.

Sadly, the turbo 88 GT will have to go on the block in the Spring.  Owned it almost 20 years!

Bill, as much as I love Fieros, even your very nice '88 GT looks somewhat frumpy compared to that beautiful Solstice GXP Coupe.

Actually, I usually formulate a plan when I buy a car and pretty much stick to it as to how I want it modified, except for any additional information I learn during the process.

When I bought the stock 88 GT, I ordered sway bars and shocks for it pretty much right away (I had done the bars on my previous 87 GT).  I decided that stiffer springs wee unnecessary and I saw nothing in my experience with the car afterward to ever change that.

I did to the engine in two stages. First I bolted on a Miller Woods turbo kit (believe me, it is far easier to use a complete kit rather than trying to engineer one yourself around some turbo unit that may be wrong for the car in the first place).

Then I decided that I'd like to see how much power I could get reliably for the street, right at the time that Miller Woods dissolved, leaving me pretty much on my own.  Went to a stroker engine with a 3.1 crank, and had some 8.5 special forged pistons created by Ross Racing (I was ordering from them anyway at the time for one of my race engines). Worked out very well with higher boost pressures and a knock sensor.  Very powerful and bullet proof.

Same thing with the Solstice - a lot of studying and then I did everything on the chassis up front.  By the time I had 500 miles on it, it had a couple of frame braces, new bars and a complete set of coil over adjustable shocks.  It would ave taken longer without benefit of the experience from several guys tat had been running them in solo events for a couple of years.

Similarly, I knew about a factory upgrade for the engine management system that took the engine from 260 BHP  260 ft-lbs  to 290 BHP and 340 ft-lbs.  It was on order before I even picked the car up from the dealer.  A couple of other things put it up another 20 or so and I am happy to stay there for the next 5 years on warranty, although some owners do seem willing to toss away part of their warranty by modding the engine further.  With different turbo units they can get between 400 and 500 BHP on the stock bottom end with these remarkable engines.  They would make such a nice swap into a Fiero....

So if anyone wants a very reliable, powerful Fiero, or knows of anyone that does, put them in touch with me.  Mean time I'm enjoying the Solstice, or I will be until the snow sets in.

A group of Solstice owners will no doubt be taking a couple of runs next year and I'll let you guys know when and where. It would be nice to see some Fieros taking part, the old nd the new.